OCR World Championships 2017 Race Recap

OCR World Championships 2017 Race Recap

OCR World Championships 2017 Race Recap

The OCR World Championships has hosted in the Blue Mountains of Ontario Canada over the course of three days, consisting of a 3k, 15k, team relay and Make-A-Wish charity run. This qualifying event brought athletes from 37 different countries to compete in an event that required qualification during the year at a select and pre-defined series of races. Team member Wilfredo Malazarte submitted this Race Recap.

The OCR World Championships was easily one of the best race experiences I’ve ever had (the only one I can think of that can rival it is World’s Toughest Mudder). The 3k was a fast course with very challenging obstacles and the 15k cranked it up to 11.

(Image: the 3K course map)

Having mostly done Spartan Races and Tough Mudders with some of the smaller races sprinkled here and there, I (naturally) got my ass handed to me. While the 3k was short, the rigs at the end took me out (along with a great majority of competitors).

The 15k was rough right from the beginning. Even the first hill had devolved into a muddy clusterfuck. Picture this: take a grassy ski slope, have it trampled into oblivion by all the other athletes who started in the Pro division, and then try climbing up. EVERYONE was on their hands and knees crawling their way up, grabbing every piece of piece of grass and digging their fingers into the mud, praying to whatever higher power would keep them from sliding back down the mountain. The terrain was in varying states of muddiness all throughout the course.

(Image: They may not be crawling…yet)

In addition to the challenging terrain, the obstacles were on another level. Even traditionally “easy” obstacles like the slippery wall (a slanted wall with a rope to help you get up) were harder than usual; it took 5 tries for me to finally get over it.

(Image: Teammate Mike King climbing over the slippery wall named The Knot.)

There were lots of new obstacles and spins on old ones that I had never done before. I got about halfway through the 15k before I finally gave up my band. Although I failed to complete all the obstacles and forfeited my competitive bands, I had an amazing time and thoroughly enjoyed myself despite all the harrowing moments. The weekend definitely pushed me to my limits. At the end of the 15k, my hands got stuck in a closed position and would automatically snap shut if I wasn’t actively trying to open them. When walking back to my car, a mother told her kids “Let that gentleman use the handrail. He needs it more than you do.” Driving afterward was VERY interesting, to say the least.

(Image: Hands that can barely hold this medal!)

In addition to the obstacles, the sense of community and running with other athletes from across the globe was a truly phenomenal experience. It really goes to show how much OCR has spread internationally. I also made lots of new friends and got to reconnect with old ones I met at previous races.